The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-09
Two Mistakes.

TO nave changed the words Decoration
Day" to those of Memorial Day"
For years l have deemed it mistake
to refuse, in charity, to deck the graves
Of the Confederate dead after the
Union mounds have received their
tribute of flowers.
For decade and half the heart of
Nation, paid homage to the valor of
the fallen soldiers and celebrated the
cause for which they fought by this
annual festival of flowers, and because
OF its triumphant and exultant charac-
ter denominated it Decoration Day..
l would still denominate it Decoration
Day." rather than Memorial Day."
which sounds too melodiously mournful
for such an occasion. l would observe
it as floral festival of triumphant re-
joicing rather than as day of mourn
ing for our patriotic dead. 1 would
heap the graves of departed veterans
with the garland of victory, symbolic,
both of grateful remembrance and
patriotic rejoicing. l would make it
day of patriotic rejoicing. would
make it day of jubilee in which to
remember the achievements of our
heroic dead with exultation, and their
memory with tenderness.
The soldier is most fifty honored
by the story Of his exploits, and the
patriot best remembered by the emula-
ton of his self sacrifices. Fame dwells
only in purpose and achievement. For
titude is sanctified only by the nobleness
of its aim. Privation is merely pitiful
unless endured for proper end. Me-
thinks the departed spirit of the warrior
would reproach, rather than praise, if
it could return and behold us mourning
over its grave for the life that was glad
ly offered upon the alter of its country
for freedom and for the right"
Tears may befit the patriots bier,
| but flowers and fair mottos should
adorn his verdant grave. Mournful
melodies may, with much prOpriety, be
chanted after defeat and disaster; but
triumphant comrades should come with
more joyous bearing, when years have
| flown, to immOrtaliZe the memory of
fallen worth. We still remember the
old times; sing the old songs; fly our
battle SCARED banners; wear our bent
and broken badges, and strew flowers
that tell of victory and rejoicing on the
graves of comrades whose memory we
love and revere; and why do we not
still call it Decoration Day" out of
respect of the dead hero, John A.
Logan, who originated it, than adopt
the untimely edict of the General En-
campment that changed it to Memorial
Day?"
Then, again, what ceremony could
be more beautifully impressive than to
conduct the exercises of Decoration
Day." as we are wont to conduct them,
with the addition of a young lady,
arrayed in befitting costume, with the
word Faith" upon her breast, in letters
of brilliant hue; with poniard in her
hand, marching in lead of the old army
boys as they wend through the walk
ways of the dead, decking graves? 1
would array another in appropriate
robes with the word 'HOpe" entwined
in letters of light on her bosom, bible
in her hand, and have her march in
advance of the Woman's Relief Corps,
in line behind the veterans. L would
enrobe, still, another in beautifully be-
coming apparel, with the word Charity"
over her heart,in gilt and golden letters,
and have her march just in the rear of |
the Sons of Veterans, who should COM
plete the line. Then when the decking
of the Union soldiers graves was &C |
complished, l would reverse the order |
of march, forming about the graves of |
the Confederate dead; when 1 would |
have Charity step to the front and
throw few flowers, in silence, on each
mound. The task accomplished, 1
would have the three sisters form a cir
Gle, about the President of the Woman's
relief Corps, she repeating the beautiful
words, ''Faith, Hope and Charity; these
three, but the greatest of these is
Charity"
1t seems to me that this sort of SER
vice would be beautifully indicative of
the teachings of scripture, and tend
to do away with the distinctions of
refusing to deck the graves of the
Southern dead, as many of our Grand
Army Posts do. 1 am fully aware
that in very many of the Northern
cities and localities, the graves of the
dead are decked by Union
soldiers hands. l am also appraised
of the fact that in many other por-
tiOnS of the country they are passed by
Some comrades say that |
decking a Rebels grave is unbecom-
ing to Union soldier" Grant, with
his dying words, said: ''let the
breach be healed-let there be peace;;"
and the Northern and Southern Gen